Scorching weekend weather on the way

Summer doesn’t officially begin for two weeks, but summertime heat will arrive this weekend with a bang.

The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Warning for much of southern Arizona including Pinal County as temperatures in the area could reach 115°F in parts of the Valley this weekend. The warning for Maricopa is in effect from 10 a.m. Thursday through 10 p.m. Sunday.

Temperatures in town are expected to hit 109° today and tomorrow, then rise to 111° Friday, 112° Saturday and 113° Sunday. Overnight lows are expected to be in the low 80s. The heat will dissipate Monday with a forecast high of 106°.

According to Weather2Visit.com, the average high temperature in June in Maricopa is 104, with a low of 69. June is the third-hottest month, behind July and August.

The Arizona Department of Health Services is offering precautions Valley residents can take to prevent heat exhaustion or heat stroke:

• Drink plenty of water. DHS recommends people who stay mostly indoors all day should drink two liters of water per day. Those who spend time outdoors should drink 1 to 2 liters per hour that they are outdoors and drink even if they do not feel thirsty.
• Dress for the heat by wearing lightweight, light-colored clothing that will reflect away some of the sun’s energy. Wearing a hat or using an umbrella also are recommended, as is applying sunscreen to exposed skin.
• Eat smaller, more frequent meals and avoid foods that are high in protein which increase metabolic heat.
• Monitory those at high risk. Check on friends, family, and neighbors for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Infants and young children, of course, need much more frequent watching.
• Avoid strenuous activity, or if it can’t be avoided, do it during the coolest part of the day, between 4 to 7 a.m.
• Stay indoors whenever possible.
• Take regular breaks if working outdoors and find a cool place. If you recognize that you, or someone else, are showing symptoms of a heat-related illness, stop activity and find a cool place.